Greenwich COVID-19 rates are slowing

GREENWICH — With vaccinations expected to begin soon for more of Greenwich’s population, the town on reported Wednesday reported the latest trend in the local coronavirus numbers.

There are now 2,905 residents who have tested positive for the virus since the pandemic began last March, up 240 from last Wednesday, First Selectman Fred Camillo said.

Additionally, 75 residents have died after a COVID-19 diagnosis, two more deaths since last week, Camillo said.

Of the reported cases, 180 are considered “active” by the town Department of Health — a decrease of 55 cases from last week.

“That’s going in the right direction,” Camillo said.

Greenwich Hospital

reported it was treating 27 patients with the coronavirus, down seven patients from the week before. Of those 27, four were in the intensive care unit and two were on ventilators.

“We are definitely seeing a flattening of that curve,” said Dana Marnane, vice president of public relations for Greenwich Hospital. “We are starting to see a little downward trend. We’re starting to feel a little hopeful.”

This comes at a time when the state is ready to move into Phase 1B of its vaccination schedule.

But it still not determined who will be covered in that phase. Gov. Ned Lamont’s COVID-19 Vaccine Advisory Group is expected to make a recommendation Thursday — and it could follow the recommendation of the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to include seniors 65 and older in Phase 1B, which is supposed to begin Monday.

Officials from the town and Greenwich Hospital were scheduled to meet later on Wednesday to discuss how the vaccine will be distributed in town. Camillo and Marnane said there would be an announcement as soon as the details are finalized.

“We will have a plan in place and get it out there ASAP,” Camillo said.

Marnane said they hoped to begin registering eligible residents for the vaccinations at Greenwich Hospital for Phase 1B by the end of the week.

“We encourage everyone to be vaccinated,” Marnane said. “We’re excited for next week.”

Under Phase 1A, Greenwich Hospital has given out more than 1,900 vaccinations to its front-line medical staff as well as to first responders, she said. Skilled nursing facilities, including The Nathaniel Witherell, have been vaccinating residents and staff through a state contract with CVS and Walgreens to provide the shots.

Since the start of the pandemic, the hospital has discharged 1,010 COVID patients to continue their recovery at home or at a rehabilitation facility, Marnane said. At the height of the pandemic last spring, Greenwich Hospital had to suspend all elective procedures due to the huge influx of coronavirus patients, with a peak of 110 in one day in April, she noted.

“We haven’t had to do that in this second round,” Marnane said. “The numbers are staying low. We haven’t had to do it in the Yale New Haven Health System.

“Just as a comparison, currently we’re treating 129 non-COVID patients in the hospital and our out-patient offices remain open,” she said. “Out patient procedures continue and the emergency room is open and busy and ready to treat anyone. So we want to continue to urge people not to delay care if they’re having any concerns, especially if they’re heart or stroke related. Don’t delay. Come in.”